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Ukraine requests extradition of Russians earlier detained in Belarus

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Zelensky and Alexander Lukashenko, discussed the detention of the group of Russian citizens in Belarus

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba EPA-EFE/FABRIZIO BENSCH/POOL

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba

© EPA-EFE/FABRIZIO BENSCH/POOL

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Zelensky, Lukashenko discuss extradition of Donbass events’ participants

KIEV, August 6. /TASS/. Ukraine has submitted a request to Belarus on extraditing Russians earlier detained by Minsk, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on Thursday, noting that no response has been given so far.

"Our law enforcement agencies have already started dialogue with their Belarusian colleagues <...>. We sent a request on handing [the detained Russians] over to Ukraine," Kuleba said.

According to the minister, no response has been received so far but Kiev was satisfied with the level of cooperation with Minsk on that issue. Kuleba reiterated Kiev's position of considering some detained Russians its citizens.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Zelensky and Alexander Lukashenko, discussed the detention of the group of Russian citizens. The Belarusian leader said the law enforcement agencies would cooperate on the issue in the framework of international agreements signed between Moscow and Kiev.

Russians’ detention in Belarus

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The Belarusian side announced earlier that 33 Russian citizens were detained overnight to July 29, as accused of plotting a terrorist attack. In his address to the parliament and the nation on Tuesday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the Russians had been deliberately deployed to his country.

Belarus handed over the list of detained Russian citizens to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, Kiev admitted that the list could include persons holding passports of various countries, including Ukraine. In this case, the Ukrainian foreign minister said that Ukraine would consider them its nationals.

Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow did not recognize the Ukrainian citizenship of some members of the group detained in Belarus. Besides, he noted that these Russian citizens were due to make a transit flight to another country via Belarus whereas their stay was neither linked to Belarus nor Belarusian affairs. Peskov pointed out that those detained were members of a private security firm.

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